New Publications
"A study of diffusion tensor imaging by tissue-specific, smoothing-compensated
voxel-based analysis" (Lee et al., January 09, NeuroImage). Voxel-based analysis (VBA) is commonly used for statistical analysis of image data, including the detection of significant signal differences between groups. Problems with typical implementations of VBA include poor tissue specificity from image misregistration and smoothing. In this study, we developed a new tissue-specific, smoothing-compensated (T-SPOON) method for the VBA of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with improved tissue specificity and compensation for image misregistration and smoothing.
"PET measurement of changes in D2/D3 dopamine receptor binding in a
nonhuman primate during chronic deep brain stimulation
of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis" (Vandehey et al., January 09, Journal of Neuroscience Methods). PET imaging is a powerful tool for measuring physiological changes in the brain during deep brain stimulation (DBS). In this work, we acquired five PET scans using a highly selective D2/D3 dopamine antagonist, 18F-fallypride, to track changes in dopamine receptor availability, as measured by the distribution volume ratio (DVR), through the course of DBS in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in a nonhuman primate.
"Encoding cortical surface by spherical harmonics" (Chung et al., October 08, Statistica Sinica).
We present a radically different asymmetry analysis technique that
utilizes a novel weighted spherical harmonic representation of
cortical surfaces. The weighted spherical harmonic representation is a
surface smoothing technique given explicitly as a weighted linear
combination of spherical harmonics. The new representation avoids the
traditional image flipping method.
"Dissociative tendencies and facilitated emotional processing" (Oathes & Ray, July 08, Emotion). Dissociation exists along a continuum in the normal population and is also associated with certain forms of psychopathology, when in excess. The present study tested evidence that dissociation might be associated with difficulties in emotional processing but found the opposite pattern. We interpret the results as suggesting emotional sensitivity in high dissociaters which may precipitate subsequent dissociation-linked deficits in emotional memory.
More Publications...
Lab in the News
October 7: Calgary Herald article Meditation influences brain function.
September 25: Vancouver Sun article Health: Mental exercise like meditation can literally change our minds
August 3: Xconomy.com article: Buddhists May Help Biotechies Solve Big Mental Health Woes, Says Merck Vet Ben Shapiro
July 21: The Huffington Post article by Dan Goleman: Joyful Wisdom: How Happy Can We Be?